“To be effective, an apology should be swift, sincere, specific, and solution-focused.” —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“Ideal conversation should be an exchange of thought. If you wait to wade in until you can be witty, you may end up a wallflower.”
—Dianna Booher

“Without a strategic plan, social media posts, tweets, pins, hangouts, and scopes are about as predictable and significant as spray paint on a very windy day.” —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“’Listening to talk shows, do you ever wonder who took the ‘civil’ out of ‘civil discourse’?”‘ —Dianna Booher

“If your communication impedes rather than improves the situation, it has become problematic, not strategic.” —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“’You have the final ‘say’ about what you say. With that comes responsibility.’” —Dianna Booher

“Communication is the soul of management: analysis and solid decisions translated into clear messages that influence people to act and feel good about their performance.” —Dianna Booher, from Communicate With Confidence!

“Communication cultures are created—not wished into existence. Great communicators model the masters, develop the strategies, practice the techniques, and measure the results.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Hearing only what’s said leaves many gaps in your understanding.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Change is difficult enough. To persuade, either reduce the size of the change—or make it so large that it’s ‘new.’” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Convoluted government regulations have gagged people to the point that they fear communicating with customers without signing paperwork first.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Being emotional may actually be one of the BEST things a woman has going for her!” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“People cannot hear logical reasons until they work through the related emotional issues.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“When making a request, give people time to consider the commitment. Otherwise, you may get a yes answer and a no on follow-through.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“’Yes, but’ stalls progress. ‘Yes, and’ propels the conversation forward.’” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Drop the doublespeak. People distrust what they don’t understand.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Squelch the urge to splurge. Communicate more with less. Subtract to add.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“The strength of a statement is often inversely proportionate to its length.” —Dianna Booher

“Communicate through your body language that you enjoy being alive.” —Dianna Booher

“Be direct. Don’t couch an opinion or objection in a question.” —Dianna Booher

“To communicate effectively with others, we must know our own heart and mind: What are my intentions in this conversation? Am I admitting my true feelings? Am I projecting my intentions and feelings onto the other person? What do I want the outcome of this conversation to be? Then we must ask ourselves, Will my words and my tone accomplish my purpose?” —Dianna Booher

“When writing or speaking, if in doubt, leave it out.” —Dianna Booher

“Confidence as you communicate creates more than charisma. It cracks open your future.” —Dianna Booher

“The right timing in your communication can mean the difference between a welcome response and rebuke.” —Dianna Booher

“When you think of a career, you approach things differently. You’re not capitalizing solely on your strengths; you need to turn your weaknesses into pluses as well. You’re not looking for a coach who’ll make you feel important; you want a coach who will challenge you. You’re not focusing on winning one big championship title; you want to sign with a team that provides a lifetime of championship opportunities. You’re not focusing on the season’s stats; you’re focusing on lifetime achievement records. The same holds true in pursuing God’s best at work. You’re not focusing on a job; you’re focusing on building character in the job. You’re not focusing solely on income; you’re focusing also on impact. You’re not focusing only on a career; you’re focusing on making a contribution in your calling.” —Dianna Booher, from Your Signature Work

“’What if we all lived each day of our lives in such a way that we would be proud to add our signature to it when the day was over—just as the artist, novelist, or clothing designer signs a piece of work? When artisans sign their work, they’re making a statement: ‘I’m taking ownership. This is my personal best at this moment.’” —Dianna Booher, from Your Signature Life

“You’ll be remembered far longer for raising thought-provoking questions than for opinions.” —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“You are the creator of your character, the writer of your life’s story, and the architect of your work life.” —Dianna Booher, from Your Signature Life

“Your body is the temple of God, and he can live either in a small motel room or a mansion, depending on your intention and the attention you give to what kind of life you are building by the way you live each day.” —Dianna Booher, from Your Signature Life

“Gratitude is not a matter of luck or talent or wealth. It’s a mental attitude.” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

“Approaching our work environment without hearing God’s voice can be disappointing, even disastrous, as striking out on vacation without being briefed on the weather reports for the destination.” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

“Deciding that they can never be the best, many employees settle in to become the least.” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

“If Jesus felt the need to ask questions and listen to His friends for feedback, how much more should we check our perceptions and improve ourselves by listening?” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

“If your communication impedes rather than improves the situation, it has become problematic, not strategic.” —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.” —Dianna Booher, from Your Signature Work

“Feedback, properly evaluated, from a caring contributor, can be invaluable in gaining perspective on where you’re going, what you’re doing, and what kind of person you’re becoming.” —Dianna Booher, from Your Signature Life

“The advice we receive from others tends to be largely our own; we hint at what we want others to tell us.” —Dianna Booher

“You have too much to lose if you don’t get feedback and much to gain if you do.” —Dianna Booher

“A sense of humor can be sunshine in a windowless office or a reward during an economic downturn.” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

“Humor also serves its purpose when it permits us to be children again, to step outside the pressure of the adult role of always having the answers and handling problems correctly.” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

“Humor should spread a smile, not wrinkle a brow.” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

“We may use self-deprecating wit on ourselves as a shield of self-defense, but we should never use sarcasm as a sword to wound others.” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

“Self-deprecatory humor can help us rise above feelings of inferiority. A popular notion says if we can laugh at ourselves before others do, we’re well-adjusted people.” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

“A good sense of humor may be the most important thing to wear when you go out in public.” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

“Humor can be a powerful tension reliever, especially the kind of humor that brings a belly laugh.” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

‘”Storytelling is no longer considered an ‘art’ mastered by only the few; it has now become a fundamental leadership skill like writing, speaking, and vision-casting.”‘ —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“As a leader, strive to speak to the heart.” —Dianna Booher

“Context matters. Consider it before you make ANY sensitive announcement.” —Dianna Booher

“Change happens because leaders communicate solutions in ways that influence people’s emotions–not just their reasoning.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Gobbledygook wastes translation time, creates distrust, and limits your influence.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“The age of generalization has passed. Communicate specifically. Be the filter for your followers.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“If participating in a marathon meeting, don’t get stuck in the murky middle.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Just as with race cars, what’s “under the hood” drives a meeting’s overall success.” —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“’If you ‘own’ the meeting or conversation, take charge.’” —Dianna Booher

“The typical agenda for corporate meetings sounds as appealing to attendees as a bottle of lukewarm water to sunbathers on a hot summer day at the beach.” —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“Simplicity and persuasion are intricately linked.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Without a strategic plan, social media posts, tweets, pins, hangouts, and scopes are about as predictable and significant as spray paint on a very windy day.” —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“Whether persuading is good or bad depends on intellectual honesty, choice, purpose, and outcome.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“You can’t persuade people to change their minds or their actions if you don’t know what they’re thinking or doing.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“To have influence on others, you have to believe you can.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

‘”Storytelling is no longer considered an ‘art’ mastered by only the few; it has now become a fundamental leadership skill like writing, speaking, and vision-casting.”‘ —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“Perspective-taking makes persuasion possible.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Persuasive leaders use precise, powerful, yet tactful phrasing.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Making persuasive messages shorter rather than longer doesn’t necessarily make them high impact.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“’When presenters offer extra benefits, the offer does not necessarily have an additive effect. Often the ‘extra’ cheapens the perceived value of the overall benefit and subtracts real value. At best, the low-value ‘extra’ may leave a negative impression of the high-value benefit.’” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Persuasion is not manipulation. Whether it’s good or bad depends on honesty, intention, outcome.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“You’ll be remembered far longer for raising thought-provoking questions than for opinions.” —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“If you don’t edit yourself before you speak, your listeners will do it as you speak.” —Dianna Booher, from Speak With Confidence!

“A good sense of humor may be the most important thing to wear when you go out in public.” —Dianna Booher, from First Thing Monday Morning

“The longer the quotation, the more punch the audience expects it to pack.” —Dianna Booher, from Speak With Confidence!

‘”Storytelling is no longer considered an ‘art’ mastered by only the few; it has now become a fundamental leadership skill like writing, speaking, and vision-casting.”‘ —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“End with a wallop, not a whimper.” —Dianna Booher, from Speak With Confidence!

“Your goal is to present either an informative briefing or a persuasive case—not necessarily a comprehensive case.” —Dianna Booher, from Communicate Like a Leader

“Boredom is contagious––audiences get it from speakers.” —Dianna Booher, from Speak With Confidence!

“Slide test: It’s not to see how much text fits a space, but how much concept sticks in the brain.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Doublespeak persists as a protective shield. It also limits your influence, wastes translation time, creates distrust, and causes confusion.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“To expand your influence, ditch doublespeak.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“The next time you’re faced with a more-is-better temptation, squelch the urge to splurge. Communicate more with less.”
—Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Short does not necessarily equate to clear. Clarity comes from word choice, structure, and relevance.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Never use a $100 story in a three-minute time slot to make a nickel point.” —Dianna Booher, from Speak with Confidence!

“Structure is to storytelling what framing is to a house. Without it, you just have a heap of supplies on a vacant lot.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“As a leader, strive to speak to the heart.” —Dianna Booher

“If you can’t write your message in a sentence, you can’t say it in an hour.” —Dianna Booher

“Don’t just drift into dialogue, draft copy, and deliver. Effective communicators know the outcome they want and plan how to get there.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Once you’re finished, give it one more reading. You can always strike another word.” —Dianna Booher

“Bureaucrats often do not intend to inform. They write to protect their organization. Doublespeak persists as a protective shield.”
—Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Communication doesn’t need to end when the last word leaves our lips. Writing as a form of communication is often overlooked. To understand its power for influence, you need to look no further than one-sentence TV or magazine ad.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Disorganized documents discourage people from reading. Convoluted sentences require rereading and waste time.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?

“Short does not necessarily equate to clear. Clarity comes from word choice, structure, and relevance.” —Dianna Booher, from What MORE Can I Say?